The International Criminal Court (ICC), which investigates serious global crimes, was recently hit by a powerful cyberattack. This happened during a major meeting of NATO leaders in The Hague last week. The ICC announced that it had been targeted by what it called a âsophisticatedâ cyberattack.
A Big Cyberattack at a Big Moment
Although the court did not say who might be behind the attack or what exactly was affected, it confirmed that the problem has been contained. That means the attack has stopped spreading, and the team is now working to understand how much damage was done.
The ICC also said it is checking everything in its systems to make sure no further harm can come from the incident. A full investigation is underway to figure out exactly what the hackers were after. However, the court did not say whether any secret or personal information was stolen.
This is not the first time the ICC has faced this kind of trouble. In 2023, the court was also attacked by hackers. That earlier cyberattack was so serious that the ICC still doesnât have fully working wifi in parts of its own building. These repeated attacks are making it harder for the ICC to carry out its important work.
What Does the ICC Do?
The International Criminal Court is based in The Hague, Netherlands. Its job is to look into and bring justice to people responsible for the worldâs most serious crimes including war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
Right now, the ICC is working on several important investigations in different parts of the world. One of its biggest cases involves accusations of war crimes related to the conflict in Ukraine. In this investigation, the court has already issued arrest warrants for some high-level people, accusing them of being responsible for the forced movement of children.
The court is also looking into what is happening in Gaza. It has issued arrest warrants for senior figures involved in that conflict, saying they may be responsible for serious violations of international law.
Because of its work, the ICC often finds itself in the middle of global political tension. Some governments strongly disagree with the courtâs decisions and actions. This has made the ICC a targetânot just of criticism, but of cyberattacks and even attempts to spy on it.
Tensions Around the ICC Are Growing
This recent cyberattack came at a very sensitive timeâright during the NATO leaders’ summit. Thatâs a time when global security is already a top concern. The timing raises questions about whether the attack was an attempt to disrupt the ICCâs work or to send a political message. However, the court has not made any claims about who might be responsible.
Just a few years ago, a spy using a fake Brazilian identity tried to enter the ICC as an intern. That person was later revealed to be working for another country and was stopped by Dutch intelligence before gaining access to the courtâs systems. This shows how much effort some actors are willing to put into getting inside the ICC.
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Recently, the court and its staff have also been facing pressure in other ways. A few months ago, sanctions were placed on top officials at the ICC, including judges and prosecutors. These sanctions came from countries unhappy with the courtâs investigations.
The ICC is not saying much about what kind of information the hackers were looking for in this latest attack. But with so many active cases and sensitive files, even the possibility of a breach is worrying. For now, the court says it is taking strong action to protect its systems and limit the damage.
Despite the challenges, the ICC continues its work. But this latest cyberattack highlights how vulnerable even the worldâs top legal institutions can be in a time when digital threats are becoming more common and more dangerous.
